Brenda Baber

Sink Holes, Subsidence, Voids under Footings & Slabs

These are common foundation issues we investigate every day.

Be alert.

Sink Holes can be some simple, localized surface erosion that cannot affect the integrity of structures. Or they can be caused by more serious and deep erosion, deep subsidence or even soil liquefaction.  If you find any of these things happening around your home, the most important thing is to get an expert structural engineer report to determine the cause and what needs to be done to ensure your home is stable.

Act now.

In some cases the problem could develop into serious damage which can require expensive repairs.

Peace-of-mind

In some cases the structure may not be affected at all by ground movements, and thank goodness! A report from Forensic Engineers can provide peace-of-mind.
Noticed some ground movements around your home?  Contact us for a chat and a free quote to schedule a thorough Engineer Investigation and Report.

by Brenda Baber

Own, Buying or Selling a House with Cracks?

Wall, ceiling or floor cracks & gaps?

It may be simple wear & tear, or it may be a sign of some Subsidence.
It may also Subsidence that is serious and could gradually get worse and worse.
And there are also cases where subsidence & cracks have cleverly been covered up, particularly with houses that are renovated & "flipped".

Expert Structural Engineer Reports

Our expert Structural Engineer Reports identify old and new subsidence and cracks and determine if they are serious or wear-and-tear. And if if they are likely to get worse and if any stabilizing or underpinning is necessary.

Peace-of-Mind

Building cracks can develop by wear & tear or from foundation movements and Forensic Engineers are the independent experts to turn to for an expert analysis and for peace-of-mind.
Contact us for a free quote for an independent engineer report.

by Brenda Baber

Underpinning Assessment

Subsidence & Wall Cracks: Underpinning Free Home Assessment was Wrong

The owner of this townhouse had a free wall cracks assessment from a very chatty & charming underpinning sales rep.
And the underpinning sales rep told him that these wall cracks were caused by very serious subsidence and that Underpinning was needed URGENTLY!
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀.
At Forensic Engineers we specialize in expert subsidence reports that identify how serious damage are and what are the root causes. And most importantly, we are 100% independent and have the property owners interests at heart.
In this case, our comprehensive investigation found that there had only been some very slight footing movements.
And, the scary cracks were just fine cracks in highly weathered wall render and there had been a build-up of black mould!
Yes. The underpinning sales rep did not even know the difference between mould and serious wall cracks & subsidence.
Forensic Engineers are the wall crack & subsidence specialists.
We are 100% independent.
We are on your side and we are definitely not trying to sell you any underpinning.

by Brenda Baber

Home Owner Saved Thousands on Underpinning

Structural Engineer Underpinning Report:

This is a recent case in Marsden and there has been some serious subsidence.
We identified the causes of the subsidence and we recommended some conventional underpinning to support the settled footings and to correct the level variations. Fortunately the problem was only for one corner of the house and our estimate was for 6 or 7 underpins, and the cost would be quite reasonable.
Fortunately, this was a routine case and the subsidence area was limited.
But Guess What?
We were astounded when the home owner told us an Underpinner's Free Home Assessment had estimated for at least a dozen underpins and that would be twice the actual cost!
That's right. The normal industry rate for a job like this would be HALF of was quoted.
In this case,  we determined that conventional reinforced concrete underpinning was the most effective and affordable. Other methods such as Resin Injection would not stabilize the founding soils. And Steel Screw Piers would not be necessary or cost effective.
We recommended that the owner should get in touch with some genuine underpinners to get a more reasonable proposal.

Thinking of underpinning? Contact us for an Expert Structural Engineer Report.

We Are Independent and We Aren't Trying to Sell You Anything.

by Brenda Baber

Subsidence, Wall Cracks, Sink Holes, Stump Damage

Structural Engineer Reports needed from Forensic Engineers.

These are cases we deal with every day.

Case 1) A house at Warner had serious settlements under a slab. We found the causes, assessed the slab condition and gave expert recommendations to re-support the slab. In this case pressure grouting was the most practical and affordable repair.

Case 2) A Tweed Heads house with possibly serious subsidence problems. We found that there had been some footing settlements a long time ago, but the house was now stable. Some drainage work and expert crack repair required - no underpinning needed! A terrific result.

Case 3) Walloon house with serious slab movements. We are in Walloon just about every week! If you are looking to buy a house in this area and the Building & Pest Report finds wall cracks - for peace-of-mind, call us to arrange an Expert Structural Engineer Report. In most cases there are some movements of the house footings and site works can help to keep the house relatively stable. In other cases where serious movements and damages are evident, traditional underpinning is the most effective method for stabilization, level correction and crack closure.

Case 4) A house on-the-market at Stafford. The buyer was concerned that damaged stumps have caused structural damages to the house. Our expert investigation found that apart from some stumps that were past their "use-by" date, the house was "sound-as-a pound".

Forensic Engineers: Expert RPEQ Structural Engineer Reports

by Brenda Baber

Structural Engineer Reports - All in a Day's Work

𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 - 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀
The owner of a 1970's bungalow was renovating and needed expert advice about how to repair cracked and displaced bricks. Our expert Structural Engineer Report found that footing settlements and rotation was the cause. And we recommended a number of procedures to stabilize the footings and some practical and affordable methods to repair the damaged bricks

𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 -𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀
This house was for sale with some old subsidence and repaired cracks. Our engineer investigation found that there had been some footing settlements due to loose material in the footing bases when the concrete was poured. And to complicate matters, since then seepage had been softening the founding material and causing more settlements. The seepage problem and this had stabilized the footings and now the the house is "sound-as-a-pound".

𝗠𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗯𝘆 - 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀
We found the post galvanizing had been damaged by the concretors during the build, and the post bases had not been "tanked". Cleaning and treating post bases will prolong the life of some posts, but post replacement will be required in the future.

𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 - 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀 & 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀
This house had serious gaps and cracks. And we found that the house slab had very serious deflections that were progressing. And significant underpinning would be required to stabilize the house before it could be properly repaired.

𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 - 𝗪𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗯 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲.
We inspected this house for the buyer. And we found that a small section of the slab edge beam concrete had broken away and the edge reinforcement was exposed. Our investigation found that the damage was localized and the slab had no significant deflections in this area. Our expert structural engineer report recommended simple cost-effective grout repairs repairs.

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗥𝗣𝗘𝗤 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀

by Brenda Baber

Forensic Engineers

Body Corp: Structural Engineer Report, SUBSIDENCE & WALL CRACKS

𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽: 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀. 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀. Fast, accurate, affordable & great to deal with.
𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄;
𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 & 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴 (𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴) & 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘉.𝘊. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 (𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺…𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺).
𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦, 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 ‘𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘥𝘦’. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘴 𝘶𝘱
John & Simone.

by Brenda Baber

Wall Cracks, Subsidence, Underpinning, Structural Engineer Reports

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁, 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗻, 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗲, 𝗕𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗽𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗵.

HERE ARE SOME RECENT CASES;

𝟭) 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲;
Cracks in a nib-wall. We found that there was no footing under this section of the wall and it needed a footing extension to support it. We recommended an expert Repair Builder who completed the new section of footing and repaired the nib-wall quickly and economically.
𝟮) 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲;
Soil swell ("heave")  lifted the driveway slab, but the house is fine.
𝟯) 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲;
Some gaps in the exterior and some cracks in the garage slab. But our investigation found there were not any significant footing or slab deflections.
𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀.
Decades of experience. Fast, Accurate, Independent & Affordable: Contact Forensic Engineers.

by Brenda Baber

Renovating a House with Subsidence and Wall Cracks

Renovating a House with Subsidence and Wall Cracks

𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚

It's really important to find the actual cause of the cracks, so that any repairs will last and cracks don't re-appear again and again.

𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩

That's why the owner of this Carindale house called Forensic Engineers to prepare an expert Structural Engineer Report.

Our expert investigation found old and recent subsidence & cracks, and footing settlements as well as footing rotation (leaning). We also identified that the house was built on an old gully that had been filled in and the landfill was subsiding bit-by-bit, year-after-year and this was causing the house cracks.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩

Our expert Structural Engineer Report found that Stabilizing the footings and permanent wall crack repair would require underpinning of most of the house footings with conventional underpinning.

𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙘 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥

Home renovations are expensive, so if there are any worrying wall or ceiling cracks, it's really important to make sure the foundations are stable by getting an expert independent Engineer Subsidence Report from Forensic Engineers from the get-go

by Brenda Baber

EXPERT ENGINEER WALL CRACK & SUBSIDENCE REPORTS FORENSIC ENGINEERS ARE HERE TO HELP!

EXPERT ENGINEER WALL CRACK & SUBSIDENCE REPORTS: FORENSIC ENGINEERS ARE HERE TO HELP!

FORENSIC ENGINEERS ARE HERE TO HELP!

Wall, ceiling or floor slab cracks may be simple wear & tear, or they may be a sign of something more serious.

It may Subsidence that has occurred in the past and was not serious and has stopped. Or it may be serious Subsidence that could be getting worse and worse.

And there are also cases where subsidence & cracks have cleverly been covered up, particularly with houses that are renovated & "flipped".

Forensic Engineers are the subsidence experts and are here to help!

Expert advice from Forensic Engineers: Our expert Structural Engineer Reports identify old and new subsidence and cracks and determine if they are serious or wear-and-tear.

And we identify if they are likely to get worse and if any stabilizing or underpinning is necessary.

Peace-of-Mind; Building cracks can develop due to normal wear & tear or from foundation movements and Forensic Engineers are the independent experts to turn to for an expert analysis and for peace-of-mind.

by Brenda Baber